Country: United States

Title: Establishment of Quarantine Areas in Oklahoma and Tennessee for Imported Fire Ants (IFA) – United States

Contact:
IFA National Program Manager, Charles Brown (301) 734-4838

Report: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a revised Federal Order that establishes Imported Fire Ant (IFA) quarantine areas in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Solenopsis invicta Buren, S. richteri Forel, and hybrids of these species are known as IFA. In order to prevent the artificial spread of this injurious plant/animal pest, APHIS, in accordance with 7 CFR 301.81, is imposing regulatory restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles that are not currently in the IFA quarantine area. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of IFA.

APHIS is establishing quarantine areas in the following counties for IFA:

Oklahoma: Atoka, Coal, Cotton, Garvin, Jackson, Jefferson, LeFlore, Murray, Pontotoc, Pushmataha, Stephens, and Tillman Counties.

Tennessee: For the first time, portions of Sevier and White Counties are being regulated. Additional areas of Cumberland, Humphreys and Williamson Counties are also being regulated. Coffee, Marshall, and Maury Counties are now entirely regulated.

APHIS is taking these actions upon verification from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture that IFA are present and established in those counties. For more information on the IFA, please visit this website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/index.shtml.

Under IPPC standards, Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren, S. richteri Forel, and hybrids of these species) are pests that are considered present: only in some parts of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
 

Posted Date: March 25, 2009, 9 a.m.